LIONS MAXIMUM AT TAMWORTH

LIONS MAXIMUM AT TAMWORTH
Shocked the previous week by the last minute loss to Wolverhampton and with several players missing, the Lions nevertheless put in a strong performance at bottom club Tamworth to run out comfortable winners by 27-10 and maximum points.
The first half opened with strong Tamworth pressure and several drives to the edge of the Lions 22. For 10 minutes the home side threw the kitchen sink at an indomitable Lions defence that, despite being stretched, refused to be breached. The wall on which the Tamworth attacks foundered was built on an outstanding back-row performance and uncompromising tackling at fly-half and centre.
After the first 15 mins the Lions gradually began to exert pressure of their own, going close on two or three occasions and moving the home defence around with drives from the forwards and quick breaks from the backs. Good breaks by Noott and by Brookes were not capitalised on but eventually, just before the half hour, an infringement at the breakdown led to the first points on the board, a penalty from Sam Wilson opening the scoring.
Within 5 minutes a break down the left was foiled but the ball was swiftly recycled and another sweeping move from left to right saw a driving run from Will Fallows rewarded with a try in the right corner, splendidly converted by Wilson for a 10-0 lead.
Having lost Bowser temporarily to a ricked ankle, the Lions lost Dews for the rest of the game when he got up from a tackle looking groggy. No matter, on came Sam Robinson to lend his considerable experience and, despite 5 mins of further pressure from Tamworth the only concession made by the Lions was a penalty goal to leave the score 10-3 at the half.
The second half started in similar vein with the home side putting pressure on the away defence playing down the slope. Again, robust tackling and covering prevented any scoring and, on 17 mins the Lions moved up field through several phases that resulted in a brilliant chip and catch through a fading defence by Robinson in the home 22 saw him score close to the posts. The conversion by Wilson saw the Lions stretch to 17-3 and a fine score by man of the match Noott gave the Lions a 22 point lead.
However, just when it seemed that Tamworth were fading they stormed back with a series of almost desperate drives to the Lions line. To their credit they drove over and the resultant conversion left the score at 22-10 with around 10 mins to go.
The Lions’ response was dynamic. Again high speed movement and pressure took them up to the home 22. Swift passing left Chance to make a clever, arcing run down the left to create space for Noott to go over between the posts and corner flag to end the scoring. Most of the remainder of the game took place within the Tamworth half with the Lions going close two more times before the final whistle.
An ultimately comfortable win saw the Lions up to 17 points and some daylight between them and the bottom three. However they know that improvements are still needed at the breakdown and in maintaining patience in attack; tougher games are coming over the next few weeks in a much tougher league than last season. There remain signs that a relatively young squad is moving forward. The back-row, in which young Sullivan ran Noott close for man of the match, was outstanding in both defence and attack and, with others returning, this is an area of definite strength.
Next week there is a break from the league with a cup match at home.

Jon Dews